Casablanca & Mediterranean Rivieras Explorer

Duration

Journey Type

Ports

Ship

Setting sail from Fort Lauderdale

These days Fort Lauderdale is a sophisticated place awash with
upmarket hotels and excellent restaurants. The glorious weather and
swathes of golden beach are still a huge draw, but there are also
plenty of cultural attractions, such as the Museum of Art and the
Museum of Discovery and Science. The city also boasts 300 miles of
navigable waterways and canals, meaning there's plenty of space for
the resident millionaires to park their yachts, and the cruise port
is one of the busiest in the world.

Our tip

A great way to see Fort Lauderdale is on the hop on hop off water taxi tour – a one day pass gives you unlimited travel and it’s a great way to sightsee as well as to get around.

26 March - 2 April

At sea

3-4 April

Portugal:
Funchal

Funchal, Madeira’s bustling capital, tumbles down a dramatic hillside towards a beautiful sweeping bay. Highlights include colourful markets, wine lodges and the spectacular cable car ride up to the village of Monte, home of the famous toboggan run.

5 April

Canary Islands:
Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Situated on Tenerife’s north eastern shore, the island’s capital is a busy port that serves mostly as a gateway to the popular south west coast and the spectacular volcanic landscapes of the island’s interior.

6 April

Canary Islands:
Santa Cruz de La Palma

The lush volcanic island of La Palma is one of the Canary Islands’ best kept secrets, a place where tourism is still low key and the beautiful scenery is unspoilt by high rise developments. Don’t miss the colourful colonial architecture of the capital, Santa Cruz, reminiscent of the Spanish Caribbean.

7 April

Canary Islands:
Lanzarote

In recent years Lanzarote has begun to shake off its mass market reputation and reinvent itself as a more upmarket destination. The extraordinary volcanic landscapes and the works of local artist César Manrique give the island a unique appearance, and the understated capital, Arrecife, is well worth exploring.

8 April

Morocco:
Agadir

Rebuilt after a terrible earthquake in 1960, Agadir is Morocco’s most popular beach resort, and there is a relaxed European feel that sets it apart from other Moroccan cities. The beachfront promenade is lovely and the waters are clean and clear, making this a popular winter sun destination.

9 April

Morocco:
Casablanca

Bustling and modern, fizzing with industry and commerce, Casablanca is often overlooked in favour of Morocco’s better known tourist draws. But then this is part of its appeal: it’s an authentic and unvarnished city, and it’s also home to the spectacular modernist architecture of the Hassan II Mosque.

10 April

Morocco:
Tangier

After years of neglect, Tangier is finally being restored to its former glory as a cosmopolitan crossroads between Europe and Africa. The Moroccan government has invested heavily in modern infrastructure, while the spruced up medina shines with a new-found cultural dynamism.

11 April

Portugal:
Portimão

Portimão is a bustling fishing port and gateway to the Algarve, with a pleasant riverside promenade where the smell of sizzling sardines fills the air. The most popular attraction is Praia da Rocha just to the south, one of the Algarve’s loveliest beaches.

12 April

Portugal:
Lisbon

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon’s colourful cityscape includes Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums. But for many the best times will be had wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets, with their great local food, wine and music.

13 April

At sea

14 April

Spain:
Cádiz

The crumbling, sun-baked seafront city of Cádiz is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the western world, founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Although the city lacks any obvious landmarks, it’s rich in atmosphere, and plays host to one of Spain’s most colourful carnivals.

15 April

Spain:
Ceuta

16 April

Spain:
Cartagena

Cartagena was founded by the Carthaginians around 227 BC, who named it after their home city in North Africa. These days the city is best known for its well-preserved Roman theatre, which was remarkably only discovered in 1987, in spite of its location in the centre of town.

17 April

Spain:
Barcelona

From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there’s never a dull moment in Barcelona.

18 April

At sea

19 April

Italy:
Alghero

20 April

France:
Ajaccio

The attractive, oceanfront capital of Corsica was the birthplace of the island’s most famous son, Napoleon Bonaparte. You can find out more about the emperor at his childhood home, the Maison Bonaparte, which is now a museum.

21 April

Italy:
Portoferraio (Elba)

The island of Elba, just off the Tuscan coast, is where Napoleon Bonaparte was famously forced to live in exile between 1814-15. It’s hard to feel too sorry for him, though; the views from his plush Villa dei Mulini, situated high above the town of Portoferraio, are quite spectacular.

22 April

Italy:
Ponza

Ponza is the largest of the Pontine islands, situated out in the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west of Naples. Sometimes described as a more authentic alternative to Capri, the island is notable for its natural beauty and Neapolitan-influenced cuisine, and has a reputation as a hideaway for the rich and famous.

23 April

Italy:
Naples

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed centre of Naples rewards exploration, and in addition to the many cultural treasures waiting to be unearthed Neapolitans are rightly proud of their food; this is where you’ll find the best pizza in Italy. The city also acts as a gateway to the fascinating remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the beautiful Amalfi coast.

24 April

Arriving in Rome (Civitavecchia)

One of the world's great cities, Rome continues to dazzle and
delight visitors with a potent mix of architectural marvels,
continent-defining history and buzzing nightlife. As the saying
goes, the city wasn't built in a day, and if you want to make the
most of Rome you'll need to spend at least a couple of nights here.
The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Forum are among the big ticket
items, with the crowds to match, though in truth you will find
history around almost every corner.

Don't miss

The Via Appia - this ancient Roman road is now part of a national park, and closed to car traffic on Sundays. Take a picnic, stroll, and visit the extraordinary catacombs.

Your home from home

The Prinsendam is a one-off – a very special ship which has been captivating its guests (for those with long memories, this ship was formerly Seabourn Sun) for many years. As Prinsendam, it is the most intimate Holland America Lines ship.

What we love

Prinsendam's wide-ranging itineraries, and manoeuvrable size,
make her the perfect choice for the more adventurous traveller, and
the lovely artwork featured around this classic ship makes
travelling on her all the more special.

Capacity

835 Guests

Crew

470 International Staff

Style

The intimate elegance of Prinsendam makes her quite distinctive.
Her clients are inquisitive and well travelled, and the high levels
of loyalty she commands makes for a very friendly and club-like
atmosphere.